Quality Engineer Lead

The Quality Engineer is responsible for ensuring products and processes meet established quality standards and regulatory requirements while serving as a key problem-solving resource for the Springfield operation. This role focuses on developing, implementing, and maintaining quality systems and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product reliability, reduce defects, and support operational excellence. This is a broad, highly visible role with significant ownership and long-term opportunity to lead a group of professionals supporting quality, warranty, repair, service, and customer satisfaction.

This position collaborates cross-functionally with manufacturing, design, supply chain, engineering, manufacturing operations, manufacturing engineering, and other internal teams to identify quality risks, conduct root cause analysis, communicate issues clearly, and implement corrective and preventive actions through the proper channels. In addition to quality engineering support, this role will oversee the warranty and service/repair department, including customer units sent in for evaluation, repairability review, and quote support. It also includes direct customer interaction and leadership of quality technicians, requiring a professional, team-oriented leader who can balance technical problem solving, customer communication, and people leadership., * Evaluate field and internal failures using structured problem-solving and root cause analysis tools; drive corrective and preventive actions through effective follow-up and resolution.

• Support Non-Conformance Material Reviews by researching issues, determining disposition, and coordinating rework instructions while minimizing cost and operational impact.
• Lead quality technicians in daily operational and tactical execution, while driving team engagement, accountability, and performance.
• Partner with Operations leadership and employees to drive ongoing improvements in safety, quality, capacity, delivery, productivity, throughput, inventory, efficiency, and profitability.
• Lead and support quality planning and engineering discipline through APQP, PFMEA, Dynamic Control Plans, project management, mentoring, training, and project reviews.
• Collaborate with sustaining, NPD, design engineering, manufacturing, customers, and suppliers to improve ergonomics, quality control, repeatability, design for manufacturing, and achievement of key annual objectives.
• Build and improve supplier quality performance through partnership, education, development, audits, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support capital planning and equipment-related projects, including CER creation and approval, budgeting, project timing, procurement, supplier selection, machine specifications, run-off, installation, training, and launch.

• 5+ years of relevant quality experience required in lieu of a bachelor's degree.
• 3+ years of relevant quality experience within a manufacturing environment.
• 1+ year of leadership experience, including direct or indirect oversight of technicians, team members, or project-based work.
• 1+ year of experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, JDE, or similar platforms.

Core Competencies:

• Quality Methodologies & Structured Problem Solving
• Demonstrated knowledge of quality principles and methodologies, including APQP, structured problem-solving techniques, sampling, statistical analysis, root cause analysis, and PDCA.
• Root Cause Analysis & Corrective Action
• Ability to evaluate field, internal, supplier, and process-related quality issues, identify root cause, drive corrective and preventive actions, and ensure sustainable resolution.
• Collaborative Influence & Team Alignment
• Proven ability to proactively influence cross-functional partners, drive alignment, and foster teamwork to achieve quality performance goals.
• Quality Systems & Continuous Improvement
• Demonstrated capability to support and improve quality systems, PFMEA, control plans, non-conformance processes, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance reliability, reduce defects, and improve operational performance.
• Leadership, Accountability & Customer Focus
• Ability to lead technicians and project-based work with professionalism, accountability, and urgency while supporting warranty, repair, service, and customer-facing quality needs.

Preferences:

• Bachelors Degree in quality, mechanical, electrical industrial or other relevant engineering focus
• Experience with Lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement initiatives
• ASQ certification (e.g., CQT, CQE, CQM, or CRE)
• Six Sigma Green Belt certification

Travel and Work Arrangements

• This is base onsite in Springfield, MO
• Possible travel to other site less than 20%

Imagine a company with technology leadership of over 160 years, yet it operates with the energy of a startup. Ingersoll Rand has dedicated itself to Making Life Better for its employees, customers, shareholders, and planets. We produce innovative and mission-critical flow creation and life science technologies - from compressors to precision handling of liquids, gasses, and powers - to increase industrial productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Supported by over 80+ brands, our products are used in various end-markets including life sciences, food and beverage, clean energy, industrial manufacturing, infrastructure, and more. Across the globe, we're driving growth with an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset. Learn more at irco.com and join us to own your future., At Ingersoll Rand, we embrace a culture of personal ownership - taking responsibility for our company, our communities, and our environment, as well as our individual health and well-being. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to empower you with the tools and support necessary to take charge of your health, ensuring that together, we can continue to make life better. Our range of benefits includes health care options like medical and prescription plans, dental and vision coverage, as well as wellness programs. Additionally, we provide life insurance, a robust 401(k) plan, paid time off, and even an employee stock grant, among other offerings. These benefits are our commitment to you, so you can be your best at work and beyond. Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE:IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to helping make life better for our employees, customers and communities. Customers lean on us for our technology-driven excellence in mission-critical flow creation and industrial solutions across 40+ respected brands where our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.